In more trouble for beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya, a special PMLA court in Mumbai on Thursday declared him a ‘proclaimed offender’ and directed the Enforcement Directorate to attach movable properties which were listed by the agency in its application. “It is pronounced and declared that the accused Vijay Mallya is the proclaimed offender. The movable properties (shares) belonging to the accused be attached,” ordered judge P R Bhavke. However, the court rejected ED’s request for attachment of the liquor baron’s overseas properties.

ED had moved the court last month seeking that Mallya be declared a proclaimed offender and his properties be attached as he did not comply with a proclamation order issued against him in June requiring him to appear before the court. The agency had sought an order from the court under the Criminal Procedure Code’s section 82 (proclamation of absconding person) as several arrest warrants were pending against him. A person against whom a warrant has been issued can be declared a proclaimed offender if the court believes that he
or she has absconded or is evading execution of warrant.

ED wanted Mallya to join the investigation “in person” in connection with probe under the PMLA, and in cases related to a Rs 900-crore loan from IDBI Bank. It said it had exhausted other legal remedies like seeking Interpol arrest warrant and getting his passport revoked.